This thread is inspired by a discussion with CosmicBob in another thread.
Assume for a moment that you get to have a meeting with Bush and ask him whatever questions you want concerning Iraq and he will listen and answer honestly and at length to whatever you have to say.
After a short delay this discussion will be broadcast to all of America unedited.
You have been selected to conduct the interview and ask these questions on behalf of all Americans. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all respect your integrity and your commitment to fair play. They know that you won’t take cheap shots, but by the same token you’re not going to lob any floaters over the plate. It is expeted that the questions you ask will be difficult, incisive, and designed to extract information that the American need to hear.
You are determined to do your very best to live up to your reputation and deliver with this interview. You know this is a one shot deal.
What are your questions? Share your interview cribsheet.
I’ll be back later to share mine.
(One quick rule) Don’t criticize someone else’s questions until you’ve shared yours. Fair?
The problem is that Dubya cannot provide those honest answers because 1) he is not honest with himself AFAICS and 2) he does not have the intellect to assess the ME situation clearly to begin with.
Should I take this to mean that you would turn down the opportunity? If the answer is “yes, I would turn it down,” than I guess this thread isn’t for you.
If you would take the opportunity, what would your questions be?
Actually, it just came to me. Bush really is not a credible interpretor of the situation, but many of his advisors probably are. We can ask Bush anything, right? Then I would dispense with his own useless opinions and…
ask him to read over the radio briefs on Iraq by both his top and not so highly ranking advisors. Verbatim. I would request equal time for both positive and negative assessments, and the expert listeners could sort out which of these advisors’ words carries more weight, etc.
Otherwise, I don’t know what good Bush’s “honest” opinions could do. I believe he sincerely, but in a self-serving fashion, feels the war is both necessary and progressing well, so he would “honestly” spin his advisors’ words to reflect that. Let’s get rid of the middleman: Bush, read us your reports instead of “My Pet Goat.”
Mr. President, among the reasons you told the American people that the war in Iraq was necessary was because you knew for a fact that Iraq posessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. This became the most widely discussed and primary motivation for the war when you brought the case for it to the UN. As it turned out, Iraq did not have WMDs as you said you knew for a fact they did.
How do you explain this to the American people and the people of the world who took you at your word? How do you explain it to the American soldiers who are fighting and dying in Iraq?
A. As a follow-up to the previous question. It is clearly important to the world and the Arab community that we prove that we are honorable and have the best intentions in our conflict with Iraq. The fact that you were so wrong and many beleive, dishonest in your asessment of the WMD is a stunning blow to our international credibility. It is a shot in the arm to our enemies who use it as an example in making the argument that we are engaged in an imperialistic adventure. Can we regain this credibility? How?
You have stressed how important it is for us to have an ally in a free Iraq. We are spending lives, both Iraqi and American, a tremendous amount of capitol, and committing vast resources to this end. What are we going to do if in the final result the Iraqis elect a fundamentalist Islamic government that is hostile to us and our interests?
Give me a brutally honest asessment with both the positives and the negatives of how we are doing in Iraq.
Convince me that we are doing everything possible to ensure the best possible outcome in Iraq.
Mr. President, every plan must have contingencies. I know you are committed to success in Iraq. Assume though that the worst happens and we fail. The insurgents win and a hostile Islamic fundamentalist government gains power with the support of the people and neighboring countries. What will you do if this happens?
“Mr President, on March 17, 2003, you made a public statement (cite) that the government of Iraq was producing weapons of mass destruction and was actively supplying weapons to terrorist organizations. Did you have objective and conclusive evidence that this was true when you made those statements?”
“Mr President, the United States government has now stated that the Iraqi government was not producing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorist organizations at that time. Was this a failure of American intelligence? And if so, what steps have been taken to assure that a similar failure does not cause the United States to enter a military conflict in the future?”
President Bush, it is apparently the case that various branches of the Armed Services are not meeting recruiting goals. It is also the case that the Services are heavily dependent upon reserve formations to continue the occupation of Iraq.
While it is not certain, it is quite possible, and perhaps even probable, that the United States will need to maintain a very large force in Iraq for some years to come. What is your plan for ensuring there is a sufficient supply of fresh troops to maintain this, should it be necessary?
Mr. President, if I might follow up on the last question by RickJay. During your campaign in 2000, you made a point of proclaiming that two whole divisions would have to report “Not ready for duty, sir.” How many divisions would now have to report “Not ready for duty, sir?”
I’ll play because I know how much Scallion likes it although I wouldn’t expect GWB to answer any question about Iraq honestly.
Mr. President. I unerstand the benifits of a self sustaining democracy in the Middle East. Isn’t there a point where we must declare that goal not worth the price we have paid and are paying? In your mind where is that point. How many lives would it take, how many billions that could be spent elsewhere would it take, how many years would it take for you to say the cost is too much?
I like fantasy - let’s pretent we inject him first with a truth serum and also an intelligence serum.
Bushes replies have been deleted from the conversation below.
Good morning Mr Bush.
Well, thank you.
Mr Bush, what was the primary motivation for the USA to invade Iraq?
Thank you. To follow up on this question, you say that we ‘strengthened our strategic presence’ in the middle east and ‘secured future oil supply’ from the region - what do you think are the disadvantages of this policy?
What do understand to be the assessment of the change in level of risk of terrorist activities against the coalition as a result of the occupation?
I was going to ask what your exit strategy in Iraq is, but since you answered that in my first question, I would like to ask if you also plan to expand US presence in other locations around the globe?
“Mr. President, as you know, your father likes Bill Clinton better than he likes you. How does that make you feel?”
“Mr. President, you used to have a brother named Neil, famously involved in banking scandals and generally considered a world-class fuckup. How have you managed to keep him so entirely out of the public eye all these years?”
“Mr. President, why have you failed to meaningfully address the growing threat of Cognitive Dissonance?”
“Mr. President, are you aware of the Japanese custom of seppuku, as a means of atonement? Would the Rose Garden be an appropriate setting for such a ritual?”
“Mr. President, all this stuff about Mars? Is this, like, post-modernist irony? Do you know that Mars is really, really far away?”
“And, finally, Mr. President, as regards Iraq…what the fuck, dude?”
Mr. President, in April of 2002, you cited a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iraq was six months away from developing nuclear weapons. When did you first become aware that this report did not exist?
In order to go to Heaven, is it necessary to accept Jesus as your Savior or was the crucifixion meaningless?
Asphinctersayswhat?
Exactly when and why did you decide that finding Osama bin Laden was not a priority for the US?
Dude…when you were like kissing and holding hands with that Arab dude? I was totally laughing my balls off. I know that’s not a question, but that was some funny shit, dude.
Is it ok with you that Karl Rove leaked the name of a covert intelligence operative? Would it be ok if he did it again?
So glad to see the maturity of so many on display.
In addition to ones already asked:
Mr. Bush, much of the Middle East’s strategic importance is due to the US’ immense dependance on oil; you have sought to develop domestic sources, but all experts say that these will still not meet the American demand. As a national-security risk, why have you not taken major steps to lessen this dependency?
One of the biggest issues among the populace that is unaddressed by Washington is our inability to secure our borders. As a national-security risk, why have you not taken major steps to do so?
Ans. Yes and that’s why it’s hard, I mean it’s really haard to get there. Just like its really, really haaard in Iraq. You just have to accept that it realy haaaard.
Mr President: If Iraq is partitioned in the next 20 years after a death toll of over 100,000 Iraqis, would you do the honourable thing and chainsaw yourself into three pieces as well?
Mr. President, at a time when the Department of Defense is having difficulty meeting its recruitment goals, why haven’t your children set a good example for the youth of our country and volunteered to serve in Iraq?
What would be your response if the Iraqi government denies full citizenship status to women?
What will you do for the prisoners in Guantanamo who are tried and not convicted?
Why aren’t the names of the thousands of military women and men injured, sometimes severely or fatally, in non-combat situations in Iraq, listed on the Pentagon’s website as casualties?
Why haven’t you called upon the American people to unite in conserving oil?